marlboroschool.net

Attending: Lauren Poster – Chair, Gussie Bartlett – Vice Chair, Jen Carr – Clerk, Francie Marbury – Principal, Steven John – WCSU Superintendent, Andy Reichsman – member of the public

The meeting was called to order by Steven John at 6:10pm.

Reorganization of the board
Nominated and elected Chair – Lauren Poster
Nominated and elected Vice Chair – Gussie Bartlett
Nominated and elected Clerk – Jen Carr
Nominated and elected Treasurer for the school district – Linda Peters
Designated WCSU Representatives – Lauren Poster/main representative, Gussie Bartlett/first back-up, Jen Carr/second back-up
Designated WCSU Policy Committee Member – Gussie Bartlett
Designated a Paper of Record – Brattleboro Reformer
Designated Truant Officer – Marlboro Constable

Chose regular meeting date/time – 1st Monday of every month at 6pm.

Francie said she will not be here on the 1st Monday in May as she will be on the Costa Rica trip with the Junior High class.

Superintendent’s report. Attached.

Steven John recommends that Francie’s contract be renewed.

Steven John left the meeting at 7pm.

Meeting was handed over to Board Chair.

We reviewed the minutes of 2/8/10. Lauren moved that we approve them as submitted. Gussie seconded the motion. The motion passed.

We adopted Policy E9 Comprehensive HIV Policy.
We also adopted policy F27 Pupil Privacy Rights: Student Surveys.

Andy Reichsman left the meeting at 7:30pm.

Principal’s report. Attached.

Upcoming Meetings:
March 31st 7pm at L&G. WCSU Reorganization Meeting
April 5th, 6 pm next MES Board Meeting

Note pay orders 15, 16, 16a at bottom of minutes.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. Jen, Lauren, Gussie stayed on to do the pay order.

Respectfully submitted,

Jen Carr

Pay Orders: #15 1/15/10 $49,694.06
#16 1/29/10 $47,000.57
#16a 1/29/10 $900.00

Our Guiding Principles:
Students will be at the center of our decision-making.
We will keep to the agenda.
The chair will estimate the amount of time necessary for each item
and act as timekeeper during the meeting.
Every voice is heard as discussion goes back and forth.
Decisions will not be made hastily.
We will ask ourselves, “What other information do we need
in order to make a thoughtful decision?”
Decisions/discussion will be recapped before moving on to a new item.
Items requiring action will be identified and we will note who is responsible for each action item.
Follow through will occur before the next meeting.
We will use e-mail judiciously to communicate between meetings.
Implementation Guidelines:
Meetings will be held on the first Monday of each month with the fourth Monday
kept in reserve, if an additional meeting is needed.
The chair will send out the agenda the Thursday before the meeting.
The meetings will start at 6 pm and go no later than 9 pm.

Marlboro School Board
Principal’s Report
Monday, March 8, 2010

Student Learning
Student Led Conferences
Preschool
Mythic Shadow Puppet Plays, 6:30
School Social Climate

Policy or Regulation Implementation
Tuition policy

Buildings and Grounds
Waiting to hear about Energy Efficiency Grant
Kitchen upgrade (summer work)

Finance/Accounting
Requesting restraint for the rest of the year

Enrollment/Staffing
Student enrollment – 84
Two new 5th graders expected in the next week or so

Informational items
Learning Fair – Tuesday, April 13, 6:30-8:30

Superintendent’s Report for the Marlboro School Board
Monday, March 8, 2010

Note: I am obliged to attend the Townshend Board Meeting as soon after 7 P.M. as possible. I hope I can persuade one of you to switch to the second Monday of each month. If so, I could give you my full attention without being compromised by conflicting time commitments to another school board.

Student/Staff Learning
1. On Monday, March 1st, all professional staff in the WCSU met at L&G for a day-long professional development workshop to support professional learning communities in every school to improve teaching effectiveness. The day also included a wellness lunch with aerobic activities.
2. I enjoyed visiting Marlboro for Friday sing, and especially helping to lead a round of “Three Blind Mice”. I also had fun surviving the Mexican Hat Dance. Immediately following I joined a small group of parents for coffee with Francie. I commend Francie for this weekly opportunity to informally chat with parents.

Policy/Regulation
1. Marlboro now has a complete set of properly warned and adopted school district policies that meet the state’s requirements. Seven school boards have also completed this task with the remaining four hoping to do so by next month.
2. On February 18, 2010, the newly appointed WCSU Governance Committee discussed what steps may be taken to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and centralization (not consolidation) of our 11 school districts and 13 boards. Thank you Gussie for representing Marlboro’s views at this meeting.
3. I have sent the latest news on the legislature to all WCSU Board Members separately via email. A joint Senate and House Education Committees public hearing on at least two bills related to governance reform is scheduled for Wed., March 10 at 5 P.M. in Room 11 at the Statehouse in Montpelier. I plan to attend.

Finance/Accounting/Operations
1. My compliments to the Board on your presentation of the budget and responses to public questioning at “Town Meeting”. I am pleased to report that all school budgets in the WCSU passed and that most were approved by unanimous voice votes. This is a credit to all the boards and a clear vote of confidence in your leadership as Marlboro’s School Board.
2. Later this month, Matt will begin overseeing the implementation of the MAC grant to enter emergency and medical information for all students in our school information system (PowerSchool).

Enrollment/Staffing
1. David Patterson, Accounts Clerk, resigned his position effective last Friday. We will fill this position as soon as possible, but for the time being, Dana Ladd will cover David’s accounts. She is familiar with his work.
2. An article in the weekend Reformer quoted Windham County and state-wide student enrollment figures that are even lower than those I’ve been quoting (91k vs. 93k). These numbers are not good news, but they do reflect the most recent enrollment reports from Vermont’s public schools last October.

Informational Items
1. I plan to participate in the Education Committees’ Joint Public Hearing on Wed., March 10 in Montpelier.
2. I will attend the SE VT Superintendents Association Meeting on Wed., March 17th.
3. I will attend the VSA Orientation Meeting for new superintendents in Montpelier on March 25th.
4. The new WCSU Governance Committee will meet at L&G on Wed., March 16th and 25th at 7 P.M.
5. The annual reorganizational WCSU Board Meeting at L&G on Wed., March 31 at 7 P.M.

sbj-3/7/10